Dunedin Blue Jays use big 5th inning to top St. Lucie Mets

DUNEDIN — The Dunedin Blue Jays scored all six of their runs in the fifth inning to overcome a deficit and defeat the St. Lucie Mets 6-4 on Thursday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

The Mets took a 3-0 lead to the bottom of the fifth after scoring a pair of unearned runs in the top of the frame. Justin Dunn had retired 11 hitters in a row, but the Blue Jays sent nine men to the plate in the fifth and scored six runs on five hits.

A two-run single by Andrew Guillotte provided the Blue Jays with a 4-3 lead. Two batters later, Max Pentecost hit a long home run to make it 6-3.

Nick Sergakis tried to spark a rally in the ninth with a solo home run, but the Mets were retired in order after that by Andrew Case.

Major Leaguer J.P. Howell started the game for Dunedin and pitched a scoreless first inning. T.J. Zeuch followed with six effective innings for the Jays. He held the Mets to two earned runs and three hits to get the win.

Dunn ended up pitching 4⅔ innings. He allowed seven hits and six runs, all earned. Craig Missigman finished the game for the Mets. He didn’t allow a run or a hit over 3⅓ innings while striking out five.

Sergakis went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two runs scored.

The Mets settled for a 2-2 split in the series after winning the first two games.

The Mets (7-8) continue their seven-game road trip on Friday when they visit the Daytona Tortugas at 7:05 p.m.